[Rory McIlroy's Instagram]
Irish golf star Rory McIlroy has refused to compete in the upcoming summer Olympics in Brazil, citing concern about the Zika virus. Rio de Janeiro is one of the world's most Zika infested areas.
"After speaking with those closest to me, I've come to realize that my health and my family's health comes before anything else," the 27-year-old former world No. 1 said in a statement published on Wednesday.
The four-time major winner said earlier this month that he and his fiance may consider starting a family in the next couple of years.
"Even though the risk of infection from the Zika virus is considered low, it is a risk nonetheless and a risk I am unwilling to take," said McIlroy.
The Olympic Council of Ireland said it's "extremely disappointed" not to have McIlroy on its team. But it agreed to respect his decision saying "it is down to the individual". "Of course, we respect his decision, which he has taken for personal reasons."
Zika is the known cause of microcephaly, a birth defect, and infected babies are born with unusually small heads and brain damage. Some athletes waiting for marriage or a baby have been pulling out of the Rio Olympics.
Australian golfer Marc Leishman and South African golfer Charl Schwartzel were the first to boycott. Some other athletes and journalists have expressed concern or decided to stay away from Rio. Pau Gasol, a Spanish player of the Chicago Bulls, has said that anyone going there should think whether it's worth the risk.
In February, the World Health Organization urged pregnant women to consider delaying or changing travel plans to affected countries.
João Grangeiro, the chief Olympic medical officer, said earlier this month that Zika numbers started declining rapidly in April. "The cooler and drier weather will reduce mosquito populations, lowering the risk of mosquito-borne infections."
Olympic organizers, citing the results of computer modeling published by the Cambridge University Press in April, said that only one or two visitors could contract the virus during their stay in Rio.
Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com